MAXIMO PARK – ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’ (album review)
Many bands approach the second album stage with in trepidation and nervousness. And for that reason, many can fail to live up to a hugely successful debut album. (Insert your choice of ‘Second Coming’ comment here!) Maximo Park, on the other hand, seem to have overcome this hurdle with consummate ease. The commercial and critical [...]
-->THE NOISETTES– ‘What’s The Time Mr Wolf’ (album review
An almost relentless assault of raw garage rock brilliance. Like Regina Spektor fronting The Stooges, getting pissed with The White Stripes, The Von Bondies, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Slits. Like Juliet and the licks but with big stinkin’ balls! Hailing from London, this distinctive three-piece make mellow and gentle acoustic melodies, like the [...]
-->Shiny Toy Guns – ‘We Are Pilots’ (album review)
Shiny Toy Guns are another of those bands who go back to the 80′s for their influences. They have a synth-led rock sound that seems like a second coming of the New Romantic movement. The vocals are shared between Carah Faye and Chad Petree, and that is the main problem with this album. The band [...]
-->Kate Nash…the real Lilly Allan? (feature)
It’s hard being a teenager living modern city life. Or at least it was for 18-year-old London lass Kate Nash. Stuck at home nursing a broken foot, with only the electric guitar her parents bought her for company. So in order to keep away the boredom, she set about writing a song about her mate’s [...]
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Features // Azealia Banks
NME voted her the coolest person of 2011 (and if you watch the video for 212 then you’ll see why), BBC have put her in 3rd position in their Sound of 2012 list (alongside the likes of Frank Ocean and Nikki & The Dove… but Skrillex did come in 4th so clearly a moron played a part in compiling the list) and her debut album is being produced by Florence + The Machine producer, Paul Epworth. Not to mention the fact that in January, none other than Karl Lagerfeld invited her into his Parisian home to perform in a celebration of his new line! Talk about girl power.
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Albums // Beach House // Teen Dream
For some reason, one that I’m gravely disappointed in myself for, I only got into Beach House post the release of Devotion. Once I came to my senses I immediately got my act together and gave all previous Beach House releases a listen. I can now only thank the power of blogging for unearthing this hazy sound of nostalgia to my once ignorant ears.
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Singles // Jack Penate // No-one Lied.
Jack Penate releases are always a joy to uncover and this week’s stripped-down and tender track was a long time coming. It is also completely different to anything we’ve ever heard from the London indie-pop scamp as he wore his heart on his sleeve and, in one take, produced this stunning piece of sentimental charm.
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Videos // Die Antwoord // I Fink U Freeky
‘I Fink U Freeky’ screeches techno synths out at you, while the vocals rap twice as fast as the average person can take a breath. The video is shot in black and white and the audience is welcomed into (what looks like) Die Antwoord’s creepy basement of unearthly delights, where rats clamber over people, alien heads float in oily water, young boys look like a product of the Chapman Brothers and bountiful dance moves are constructed into uncontrollable leg-hopping fits.
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Interviews // King Charles
With his trademark dredhive and finely tweaked mustache, this King Charles looked rather like some kind of sexy pantomime pirate. After a few casual drinks and what seemed like an hour of ‘getting the lighting right’, he was kind enough to sit down and chat about his plans for 2012, being ‘glam folk’ and how his heart constantly beats for music.
Twitter: @_NOIZE
- twitter is being a twat, sorry...
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Albums // Other Lives // Tamer Animals
Other Lives are a folk band brimming with musical talent. They excel in creating rhythmic drum patterns, haunting lead vocals, indulgent chanting backing vocals and a progressive folk sound.
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Single of the Week // Miracle Fortress // Everything Works
No, it’s not another remix of MJ’s Billie Jean. However, from listening to the similar sounding ‘chikka-cha’ drum taps at the intro of Miracle Fortress’ Everything Works, you’d be forgiven for thinking so. Everything works’ ‘80s reference’ only last about a second, until kooky cyber sounds kick in, making the song all about futuristic fun.
